NGS Data Analysis Course, Spring 2016

The Harvard Chan Bioinformatics Core is excited to offer an in-depth course for analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data beginning in February 2016. The course description, schedule, and application details are provided below.

Application Status: Closed

Description

This course is aimed at bench biologists who are interested in learning about NGS-based genomic analysis. The topics covered in-depth during this course are analysis of RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq data, with an optional Variant Calling session. The sessions will also include functional analysis downstream of sequence data processing. During this course, participants will gain skills in the areas of (a) UNIX and basic shell scripting, (b) high-performance compute clusters, and (c) R for statistical analysis and data visualization. At the end of this course, participants can expect to have the expertise to independently run data analysis for sequencing experiments.

No prior programming experience or command-line training is required.

Format

The course is comprised of five hands-on sessions held over a period of five weeks beginning the second week of February 2016. Each session runs for 2 consecutive days (9am to 5pm), and the sessions are held every week. Please note that attendance is mandatory for all sessions (see schedule below for dates). Homework assignments for practicing key concepts will be assigned at the end of each session, and it will be due at the beginning of the following session in one week (homework assignments will take no more than roughly 2 hours to complete). Office hours will be held once between sessions to help with homework questions or general questions.

Schedule

The full schedule for the NGS Data Analysis course is listed below. All sessions will take place on the Longwood Medical Area campus.

Date

Description

Time

February 8th - 9th

Introduction to UNIX, Orchestra and NGS Data Analysis

9am - 5pm

February 16th - 17th

NGS workflow and RNA-seq Part I

9am - 5pm

February 22nd - 23rd

RNA-Seq Part II

9am - 5pm

February 29th - March 1st

NGS Analysis Tools

9am - 5pm

March 7th - 8th

ChIP-Seq and Closing Remarks

9am - 5pm

Application Process

The application process has 3-steps:

Fill out this form by November 25th with information for us to check your eligibility*, and some additional background information.

If you are eligible, you will be contacted. Upon confirmation of eligibility you will be asked to submit the necessary materials (including a CV and a research statement and a letter of approval from your PI/supervisor).

If your application is accepted**, you will proceed to pay the $400 course fee to finalize your spot in the class.

We will be sending detailed instructions for steps 2 and 3 via email.

*Eligibility requirements:

Members of the following groups are eligible to participate in this course:

Harvard Medical School (HMS) affiliated researchers from the Basic and Social Science Departments on the Quad (PIs should have grants administered by HMS)

Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center (HNDC)

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI)

**We will be selecting a total of 20 participants for this course based on various criteria, including your affiliation (see above).